Folding bookcase



Mag7 19, 1925.

H. C. SLAUGHTER ET AL FOLDING BOOKCASE 5 Sheets-Sheet l May 19, 192s.

H. C. SLAUGHTER ET AL FOLDING BOOKCASE Filed Aug. 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIJIIIIIIIIIII H. C. SLAUGHTER ET AL FoLDNG BooxcAsE may 19, 1925. A'1,538,663

Filed Auez. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 attorney Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED STATES Pari-:furv OFFICE.

HARVEY C. SLAUGHTER AND BERT D.y JONES, F SAN MARCOS, TEXAS.

FOLDING BOOKCAySE.

Application filed August 28, 1,923. Serial 659,789.

To all 107mm. t may concer/rr:

Be it known that we, HARVEY C. SLAUGH- TER and BERT D. JoNEs, citizens of the United States, residing at San `Marcos, in the county of Hays and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Bookcases; and we do hereby declare the following vto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has for its object the provision of an article of furniture, such as a bookcase which may be reduced to compact form for convenience of shipping and storing and which may be enlarged or curtailed, as required, since it is of sectional formation, thereby admitting of sections being added or removed as required.

`Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understood.

Vhile the `drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditi-ons and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

Figure lis a front view of a folding bookcase embodying the invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof,

Figure 3 is a detailA longitudinal section,

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view ofthe base, showing the parts on a larger scale,

Figure 5 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 4, as they appear when folded,

Figure 6 is a detail viewofthe top,

Figure 7 is a front view of the device as it appears when folded,

Figure 8 is a detail view of one of the sections.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The device is of sectional formation, the several sections, with the exception of the base, being of like formation and the top section having folding sides applied thereto to provide supports for books or other articles placed thereon.

The top of one section forms the bottom for the next section thereabove and each of the sections comprises a top, a front,'a back and sides. The front of the lower or base section is adapted to swing, whereas the front of theother sections is mounted both to swing and slide so as to come beneath the top when in folded position. Each of the main sections comprises a top 1, sides 2, a front 3 and a back 4. The top 1 is provided in opposite longitudinal edgeswithgrooves l5 `in vwhich runners are slidably mounted,

said runners having pivotal connection with the sides 2. Battens 6 are firmly attached vto opposite ends of the top 1 and depend therefrom and are provided .upon `their inner sides with grooves 7 which are disposed adjacent the top l and receive guide studs 8 at the upper corners of the front 3. Stops 9 are disposed adjacent the outer ends of the grooves 7 and are adapted to engage coacting stops 10 at the upper corners of the front 3, whereby to limit both the outward movement of the front 3 when drawn forward and the inward movement thereof when in vertical or pendent position. The sides 2 are hinged to the battens 6, as indicated at 11, the connection being such as to provide a rule or baton joint.` Runners 12, pivoted to the lower corners of the sides 2, have portions arranged to operate in the grooves 5. Stops 13 at the outer ends of the battons `6 limit the outward movement of the runners 12a-nd the unfolding of the sides 2. The battens 6 are of adepth or width to admit of the front 3 and back 4 coming be* neath the top 1 with the sides 2 folded thereagainst so that said front and back ,will be comprised between the top 1 and sides 2 when the device isfolded.

The back 4 is pivotally connected at its upper corners to the lower corners of the battens 6,`.tlie connection comprising pintles 14 extending' inwardly from the battens 6, and grooves 15 in the edges of the back 4 in which the pintles 14 extend and operate. In this lnanner the back 4 has a limited play and is free to swing. The rear runners 12 are provided with extensions 16 which constitute stops to engage the lower corners of the back 4 and limit its movement when swung into vertical position. When the section is set up for use, the back the parts in eXtended position.

4 fits snugly between opposite battens 6 and sides 2, thereby holding the latter from in ward movement and spacing the sections. The front 3 is adapted to swing outwardly and upwardly and is adapted to be slid beneath the top 1 so as to be out of the way when free access to the section is required. The front 3 is provided with a handle 17 whereby it may be conveniently manipulated when being slid beneath the top 1. A knob 18 also provides convenient means for manipulating the front and limiting the inward sliding movement thereof when adjusted to a position beneath the top 1.

rTo provide a finish to the top of a tier of sections and to provide supporting means for books and the like, sides 19 are employed and are connected to the top of the upper section by means of runners 2O which are pivotally connectedY to the lower corners of the sides 19 and engage the grooves 5 in the top of the upper section. Braces 21 pivotally connected to the sides 19, detachably engage the top to which the sides 19 are applied. The braces 21 support the sides 19 in upright position and being located in the rear of the sides and top are out of the way of books and other articles that may be placed upon the upper section.

The base or bottom section comprises a top 1 provided with battens 6, a front 22, a back 23 and sides 24, the front and back being hinged to the top 1 and the sides 24 being hinged to the battens 6. The front 22 and back 23 are adapted to fold against the underside of the top 1 and the sides 24 fold against the front and back which lie between the top 1 and folded sides 24:. Arcuate grooves 25 are formed in the inner faces of the sides 24 and receive studs 26 at the lower corners of the front 22 and back 28, respectively. Notched plates 27 attached to the lower corners of the sides 2a are adapted to engage the studs 26 and hold Springs 28 disposed in the lower ends of the arcuate grooves 25 are adapted to engage the studs 26 and hold the same in engagement with the notched plates 27. Vhen the front 22 and back 23 are folded against the underside of the top 1, the sides 24 may be folded thereon, thereby reducing the bottom or base section to compact form.

When the parts are assembled, the top of the base or bottom section forms the bot-A tom for the section mounted thereon and the `top of the first section forms the bottom for the second section and so on throughout the series of sections. The runners 12 form connecting means between the several sections and admit of the same being readily separated when it is required to reduce the structure to compact form for convenience of storing or transporting.

That is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character specified, a top, battens rigid with and depending` at opposite ends of the top, inwardly folding sides hinged to the battens and provided upon their inner sides with arcuate grooves, a front and a back hinged to the top and foldable against the underside thereof, and studs projecting outwardly from the lower corners of the front and back and entering said arcuate grooves.

2. In a device of the character specified, a top, battens rigid with and depending at opposite ends of the top, inwardly folding sides hinged to. the battens and provided upon their inner sides with arcuate grooves, a front and a back unconnected to the sides hinged to the top and foldable against the underside thereof, studs projecting outwardly from the lower corners of the front and back and entering said arcuate grooves, and notched plates at the lower ends of the arcuate grooves to engage the studs of the front and back to hold the parts extended.

3. In a device of the character specified, a top, battens rigid with and depending at opposite ends of the top, inwardly folding sides hinged to the battens and provided upon their inner sides with arcuate grooves, a front and a back unconnected to the sides hinged to the top and foldable against the underside thereof, studs projectingA outwardly from the' lower corners of the front and back and entering said arcuate grooves, notched plates at the lower ends of the arcuate grooves to engage the studs of the front an-d back to hold the parts extended, and springs disposed within the grooves and adapted to engage the studs and hold the same in engagement with the notched plates.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HARVEY C. SLAUGHTER. BERT D. JONES. iVitnesses B. M. DAiLnr, HERBERT Pirna. 

